Bulimia
Gail B. Stewart
Bulimia
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Gail B. Stewart
21st Century Skills Library: Health at Risk
The text is written at a 4th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes.
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About This Book
Discover the truth about bulimia through clear explanations and up-to-date research, helping young readers understand this challenging condition. Learn how to think critically about different ideas and information surrounding eating disorders in a supportive way.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This is a Level 4-5 book with moderate content intensity. Content themes include emotional: mental health, emotional: identity & self-discovery. Written for readers ages 9-12.
Why we rated Bulimia 9ME
Bulimia is written at a Level 4-5 reading level (approximately 2,907 words). Strong independent readers around grade 5.7 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Bulimia works for readers up to grade 6.7.
Read aloud, Bulimia takes about 19 minutes, which fits within a single read-aloud session.
We rate Bulimia as 9ME ("Moderate — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Moderate" range — moderate conflict that may involve loss, scary scenes, or interpersonal stakes. The strongest signals come from emotional weight — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Emotional: Mental Health, Emotional: Identity & Self-Discovery.
Thematically, Bulimia explores health education, mental health awareness, and coming of age — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.
Good fit for
- ✓ Children in the Ages 9-12 range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about health education, mental health awareness, coming of age.
- ✓ Readers who fall hard for one book and want a long series to live in — there is one more book in the 21st Century Skills Library: Health at Risk series.
- ✓ Curious kids who prefer real-world topics over made-up stories.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.
For Parents
Content Intensity
9ME — Moderate — EmotionalReal stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.
Content Flags
Was our "Moderate" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
4/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
3/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
More in the 21st Century Skills Library: Health at Risk Series
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781602792821
- Publisher
- Cherry Lake Publishing
- Published
- 2008
- Type
- Nonfiction
- Word Count
- 2,907
- Read-Aloud
- ~19 min